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EP0246962B1 - Fuel assembly comprising an anti-corrosion spacer grid - Google Patents

Fuel assembly comprising an anti-corrosion spacer grid Download PDF

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Publication number
EP0246962B1
EP0246962B1 EP87401115A EP87401115A EP0246962B1 EP 0246962 B1 EP0246962 B1 EP 0246962B1 EP 87401115 A EP87401115 A EP 87401115A EP 87401115 A EP87401115 A EP 87401115A EP 0246962 B1 EP0246962 B1 EP 0246962B1
Authority
EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
grids
assembly
elements
fins
distributed
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Expired - Lifetime
Application number
EP87401115A
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP0246962A1 (en
Inventor
Joel Thomazet
André Kolmayer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Areva NP SAS
Orano Demantelement SAS
Original Assignee
Framatome SA
Compagnie Generale des Matieres Nucleaires SA
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    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
    • G21C3/02—Fuel elements
    • G21C3/22—Fuel elements with fissile or breeder material in contact with coolant
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
    • G21C3/30—Assemblies of a number of fuel elements in the form of a rigid unit
    • G21C3/32—Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements
    • G—PHYSICS
    • G21—NUCLEAR PHYSICS; NUCLEAR ENGINEERING
    • G21C—NUCLEAR REACTORS
    • G21C3/00—Reactor fuel elements and their assemblies; Selection of substances for use as reactor fuel elements
    • G21C3/30—Assemblies of a number of fuel elements in the form of a rigid unit
    • G21C3/32—Bundles of parallel pin-, rod-, or tube-shaped fuel elements
    • G21C3/322—Means to influence the coolant flow through or around the bundles
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y02—TECHNOLOGIES OR APPLICATIONS FOR MITIGATION OR ADAPTATION AGAINST CLIMATE CHANGE
    • Y02E—REDUCTION OF GREENHOUSE GAS [GHG] EMISSIONS, RELATED TO ENERGY GENERATION, TRANSMISSION OR DISTRIBUTION
    • Y02E30/00—Energy generation of nuclear origin
    • Y02E30/30—Nuclear fission reactors

Definitions

  • the invention relates to fuel assemblies for a nuclear reactor cooled by a coolant passing through the core from the bottom to the top, comprising a bundle of fuel rods provided with a metal sheath, the rods being maintained according to a network of steps determined by several spacing grids arranged at given intervals.
  • the grids perform a number of distinct functions. On the one hand they support laterally and they brace the fuel rods containing the fissile material. They also ensure the resistance to transverse shocks that assemblies can undergo during handling, during seismic incidents or during operational incidents. On the other hand, these grids ensure the mixing of the refrigerant passing through the core from the bottom to the top. It is indeed important to ensure that the coolant is mixed as well as possible to allow optimal extraction of the heat given off by the rods containing the fissile material, and to avoid local increases in temperature which risk causing local boiling.
  • Document EP-A-0 187 578 published after the priority date of the present application, further describes an assembly comprising a skeleton comprising two end pieces connected by elongated elements such as guide tubes and several grids distributed along the guide tubes and forming cells for holding a bundle of fuel rods at the nodes of a regular network.
  • These grids are of several different types and can be considered as distributed between median grids, designed so as to resist lateral impacts and provided with fins creating turbulence in the flow of the refrigerant along the assembly, low grids and high grids ensuring the spacing of the rods, and imposing on the refrigerant a lower pressure drop than the median grids.
  • the present invention aims to provide a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor core which meets the requirements of practice better than those previously known, in particular in that the corrosion of the upper part of the rods is reduced.
  • This analysis of the facts was verified by measuring the layer of oxide which forms on the surface of the sheath with a pencil irradiated at several points along the sheath. The measurements were carried out using an eddy current probe. They have shown that the oxide thickness increases significantly from the bottom up. For example, this thickness, for one of the fuel claddings analyzed irradiated at a value exceeding 40,000 MWj / tU, is around 18 ⁇ m at the bottom and reaches 50 ⁇ m at the top. The Applicant has also found that the thickness is an increasing function of the temperature at the interface between the metal and the oxide during the stay of the fuel in the reactor. The increased thickness of oxide in the upper part further increases the temperature and therefore the formation of the oxide.
  • the Applicant has therefore sought to increase the heat exchanges which intervene between each pencil and the pressurized water in the upper part of the pencil.
  • the invention proposes in particular a fuel assembly as defined in claim 1.
  • the upper grids ensure mixing of the refrigerant (water under pressure) by mixing the coolant streams more intense than that caused by the upper grids of the prior art.
  • the upper grids are provided with fins and the lower grids are devoid of them.
  • the last grid located near the upper end of the assembly is also deprived.
  • the upper grids are of the lightened type; they can be of the kind described in document EP-AO 239 441. They then comprise a peripheral belt and at least two series of parallel plates, the plates of a series being oblique with respect to those of the others so that the series delimit passage alveoli from pencils; the parallel plates are distributed in at least two beds spaced in the longitudinal direction of the assembly, provided with half-fins having different orientations in the two beds.
  • the curve of Figure 1 shows the evolution of the thickness of the zirconia layer on the surface of a pencil as a function of the position in the assembly, and this for an assembly of known type.
  • the distance between the end of the lower part of the pencil and the part of the pencil where the measurement is taken is plotted on the abscissa, and the thickness of the oxide layer measured is plotted on the ordinate.
  • the location of the grids distributed axially along the rod is shown in Figure 1 by vertical bars identified from A to H, the grid designated by A being the grid located closest to the lower end piece of the assembly and therefore of the lower cap of the pencil examined.
  • FIG. 2 schematically represents an assembly 1, comprising a skeleton which comprises a lower end piece 3 and an upper end piece 4, connected by elongated elements such as guide tubes 5.
  • the assembly comprises seven upper grids and four lower grids, these numbers not being limiting.
  • the installation of the seven upper grids allows better mixing of the refrigerant, at reactor power and equal coolant temperature, in the upper part of the assembly; this results in a lower sheath temperature and therefore makes it possible to slow the growth of the oxide layer in this part.
  • the formation of corrosion on the rods in the part between the grids E and H of Figure 1 is thereby delayed.
  • the number of grids in the upper part is considered to be doubled, the rods being braced by grids arranged axially every 25 cm.
  • FIG. 3 schematically shows a grid 20 which can be adopted as an upper grid in an assembly according to the invention. It comprises two parallel beds 21 and 22 of plates 23 for holding and spacing the pencils. The plates are provided with mixing fins 24, so as to ensure, in addition to their support function, a function of mixing the fluid threads.
  • FIGS. 3 and 4 shows a type of mixing grid with two beds 21 and 22.
  • the beds are connected by rods or corner bars 25.
  • Each bed includes plates 26 mounted in two different directions. It will be noted that each bed of plates as appearing in FIGS. 3 and 4 is incomplete in the sense that a pencil receiving cell 27 is only completely delimited by plates belonging to the two beds.
  • the upper grids can be of the type described in document EP-A-0 239 441, but other types of grids can also be used in an assembly according to the invention.
  • Figures 5 and 6 show a possible embodiment of the grids above a single bed and show the fixing tabs 31 of the grid 30 on some of the guide tubes.
  • the grid 30 provides a spacer function for the rods 32, by bosses 33, 34 placed on each face of the plates 35 at two levels. It introduces turbulence into the flow of the cooling fluid passing from bottom to top of the assembly by fins 36, for example of the type described in document EP-A-0 187 578.
  • At least some of the plates advantageously extend by a lip 37 having a longitudinal fold 38 of stiffening.
  • Figure 7 shows the appearance, in top view, of the lower grids.
  • These grids comprise two sets of plates 40 in which slots 41 of mid-iron assembly are formed (FIG. 8). Once fitted, the plates are fixed by welding at points 42, for example by electron beam.
  • the plates 40 are stamped so as to create bosses projecting from each side of the plate, in two adjacent cells, such as cells 43 and 44 in FIG. 7. These bosses provide the lateral bracing of the crayons of fissile material, such than the pencil 45 in FIG. 7.
  • the grids shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, have on each face of a cell, a single boss.
  • the bosses corresponding to the cell 43 are designated by the reference 46 in Figures 8 and 9.
  • the bosses on two faces are at a different level from that of the bosses carried by the two perpendicular faces.
  • Each pencil of fissile material 45 is therefore braced. laterally by contact with four bosses.
  • Each boss 46 is associated with a boss 47 oriented in the opposite direction, except in the case of the walls which delimit a cell occupied by a guide tube 48 (FIG. 7).
  • the lower grids do not have fins. They therefore participate only slightly in the mixture of fluid threads and, consequently, introduce only a very low pressure drop.
  • the invention is in no way limited to the embodiments which have been described. It covers all variants thereof in the wax of the claims and in particular those where the grids have a non-rectangular polygonal section.

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  • Physics & Mathematics (AREA)
  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Plasma & Fusion (AREA)
  • General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • High Energy & Nuclear Physics (AREA)
  • Monitoring And Testing Of Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
  • Catalysts (AREA)
  • Solid Fuels And Fuel-Associated Substances (AREA)
  • Structure Of Emergency Protection For Nuclear Reactors (AREA)
  • Epoxy Compounds (AREA)

Description

L'invention concerne les assemblages de combustible pour réacteur nucléaire refroidi par un réfrigérant traversant le coeur du bas vers le haut, comportant un faisceau de crayons combustibles munis d'une gaine métallique, les crayons étant maintenus selon un réseau de pas déterminé au moyen de plusieurs grilles d'espacement disposées à intervalles donnés.The invention relates to fuel assemblies for a nuclear reactor cooled by a coolant passing through the core from the bottom to the top, comprising a bundle of fuel rods provided with a metal sheath, the rods being maintained according to a network of steps determined by several spacing grids arranged at given intervals.

Elle trouve une application particulièrement importante, bien que non exclusive, dans le domaine des assemblages pour réacteurs nucléaires à eau sous pression, dits PWR, pour lesquels la gaine métallique des crayons est en alliage de zirconium.It finds a particularly important, although not exclusive, application in the field of assemblies for pressurized water nuclear reactors, called PWR, for which the metal sheath of the rods is made of zirconium alloy.

Dans les assemblages de combustible du type qui vient d'être décrit, les grilles remplissent un certain nombre de fonctions distinctes. D'une part elles supportent latéralement et elles entretoisent les crayons de combustible contenant la matière fissile. Elles assurent également la résistance aux chocs transversaux que peuvent subir les assemblages lors des manutentions, lors d'incidents d'origine sismique ou lors d'incidents de fonctionnement. D'autre part ces grilles assurent le mélange du réfrigérant traversant le coeur du bas vers le haut. Il est en effet important d'assurer un aussi bon mélange que possible du réfrigérant pour permettre une extraction optimale de la chaleur dégagée par les crayons contenant la matière fissile, et éviter des augmentations locales de température risquant d'entraîner des ébullitions locales. On peut ainsi obtenir une élévation globale d'enthalpie répartie transversalement de façon plus homogène dans le coeur, afin d'utiliser ce dernier à sa puissance de sortie maximale, tout en évitant ce dernier type de phénomène, c'est-à-dire en conservant un taux d'amorçage d'ébullition nucléée acceptable.In fuel assemblies of the type just described, the grids perform a number of distinct functions. On the one hand they support laterally and they brace the fuel rods containing the fissile material. They also ensure the resistance to transverse shocks that assemblies can undergo during handling, during seismic incidents or during operational incidents. On the other hand, these grids ensure the mixing of the refrigerant passing through the core from the bottom to the top. It is indeed important to ensure that the coolant is mixed as well as possible to allow optimal extraction of the heat given off by the rods containing the fissile material, and to avoid local increases in temperature which risk causing local boiling. It is thus possible to obtain an overall elevation of enthalpy distributed transversely in a more homogeneous manner in the core, in order to use the latter at its maximum output power, while avoiding the latter type of phenomenon, that is to say in maintaining an acceptable nucleated boiling initiation rate.

On connaît déjà différents types d'assemblage comportant des grilles d'espacement réalisant ces fonctions. Ainsi, les assemblages nucléaires connus de l'art antérieur de réacteurs PWR comprennent des grilles disposées à intervalles réguliers du haut en bas de l'assemblage. De plus l'article "westinghouse introduces new fuel for PWRs and BWRs " (Nuclear Engineering Int., vol. 30, n° 374, pp. 53-55) et le document EP-A-0 148 452 font connaître un assemblage combustible comprenant, en plus de grilles classiques de maintien latéral des crayons, réparties régulièrement tout le long de l'assemblage, des grilles de mélange placées entre les grilles classiques supérieures. Le document EP-A-0 187 578, publié postérieurement à la date de priorité de la présente demande, décrit par ailleurs un assemblage comprenant un squelette comportant deux pièces d'extrémités reliées par des éléments allongés tels que des tubes-guides et plusieurs grilles réparties le long des tubes-guides et formant des cellules de maintien d'un faisceau de crayons de combustible aux noeuds d'un réseau régulier. Ces grilles sont de plusieurs types différents et peuvent être considérées comme réparties entre grilles médianes, conçues de façon à résister aux chocs latéraux et munies d'ailettes de création de turbulence dans l'écoulement du réfrigérant le long de l'assemblage, grilles basses et grilles hautes assurant l'entretoisement des crayons, et imposant au réfrigérant une perte de charge plus faible que les grilles médianes.Various types of assembly are already known comprising spacing grids performing these functions. Thus, the nuclear assemblies known from the prior art of PWR reactors comprise grids arranged at regular intervals from top to bottom of the assembly. In addition, the article "westinghouse introduces new fuel for PWR s and BWR s " (Nuclear Engineering Int., Vol. 30, n ° 374, pp. 53-55) and document EP-A-0 148 452 make known a fuel assembly comprising, in addition to conventional grids for holding rods sideways, distributed regularly throughout the assembly, mixing grids placed between the upper conventional grids. Document EP-A-0 187 578, published after the priority date of the present application, further describes an assembly comprising a skeleton comprising two end pieces connected by elongated elements such as guide tubes and several grids distributed along the guide tubes and forming cells for holding a bundle of fuel rods at the nodes of a regular network. These grids are of several different types and can be considered as distributed between median grids, designed so as to resist lateral impacts and provided with fins creating turbulence in the flow of the refrigerant along the assembly, low grids and high grids ensuring the spacing of the rods, and imposing on the refrigerant a lower pressure drop than the median grids.

Cette solution permet de résoudre de nombreux problèmes. Cependant, dans le cas particulier des gaines en alliage à base de zirconium, la corrosion en partie haute des crayons peut apparaître dans des proportions plus importantes qu'en partie basse.This solution solves many problems. However, in the particular case of zirconium-based alloy sheaths, corrosion in the upper part of the rods can appear in greater proportions than in the lower part.

Il est connu que les phénomènes de corrosion, sont fonction de la température, et de la puissance locale, et que la température du réfrigérant règnant en haut du coeur est forcément plus importante qu'en partie basse. Ces deux facteurs : température du réfrigérant et puissance locale dégagée, pouvaient expliquer à l'homme de l'art cette corrosion différentielle, mais en lui faisant apparaître ce phénomène comme inévitable.It is known that corrosion phenomena are a function of temperature and local power, and that the temperature of the refrigerant prevailing at the top of the core is necessarily higher than at the bottom. These two factors: refrigerant temperature and local power could explain to the person skilled in the art this differential corrosion, but by making this phenomenon appear inevitable.

La présente invention vise à fournir un assemblage combustible pour coeur de réacteur nucléaire répondant mieux que ceux antérieurement connus aux exigences de la pratique, notamment en ce que la corrosion de la partie haute des crayons est réduite.The present invention aims to provide a fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor core which meets the requirements of practice better than those previously known, in particular in that the corrosion of the upper part of the rods is reduced.

Pour arriver à ce résultat, il a tout d'abord été nécessaire d'effectuer une nouvelle analyse des phénomènes et de prendre conscience de l'existence de causes d'accélération de la corrosion de la partie haute. Cette analyse a conduit à formuler l'hypothèse que la couche d'oxyde formée sur la gaine du fait de la corrosion augmentait la résistance à l'échange thermique du crayon vers l'eau sous pression, donc aggravait la corrosion. Et, du fait que la formation est plus rapide à la partie haute des crayons où la température est la plus élevée, un phénomène d'amplification réciproque se produisait.To arrive at this result, it was first necessary to carry out a new analysis of the phenomena and to become aware of the existence of causes of acceleration of the corrosion of the upper part. This analysis led to formulate the hypothesis that the oxide layer formed on the sheath due to corrosion increased the resistance to the heat exchange of the rod towards water under pressure, therefore aggravated the corrosion. And, since the formation is faster at the upper part of the pencils where the temperature is higher, a phenomenon of reciprocal amplification occurred.

Cette analyse des faits a été vérifiée en mesurant la couche d'oxyde qui se forme à la surface de la gaine d'un crayon irradié en plusieurs points le long de la gaine. Les mesures ont été effectuées à l'aide d'une sonde à courants de Foucault. Elles ont montré que l'épaisseur d'oxyde augmente de façon importante du bas vers le haut. Par exemple, cette épaisseur, pour une des gaines de combustible analysées irradiée à une valeur dépassant 40,000 MWj/tU, est aux alentours de 18 µm en partie basse et atteint 50 µm en partie haute. La demanderesse a également constaté que l'épaisseur est une fonction croissante de la température à l'interface entre le métal et l'oxyde pendant le séjour du combustible dans le réacteur. L'épaisseur accrue d'oxyde en partie haute augmente encore la température et donc la formation de l'oxyde.This analysis of the facts was verified by measuring the layer of oxide which forms on the surface of the sheath with a pencil irradiated at several points along the sheath. The measurements were carried out using an eddy current probe. They have shown that the oxide thickness increases significantly from the bottom up. For example, this thickness, for one of the fuel claddings analyzed irradiated at a value exceeding 40,000 MWj / tU, is around 18 µm at the bottom and reaches 50 µm at the top. The Applicant has also found that the thickness is an increasing function of the temperature at the interface between the metal and the oxide during the stay of the fuel in the reactor. The increased thickness of oxide in the upper part further increases the temperature and therefore the formation of the oxide.

Pour réduire ce phénomène d'augmentation de la corrosion en partie haute des gaines, la demanderesse a donc cherché à augmenter les échanges thermiques qui interviennent entre chaque crayon et l'eau sous pression en partie haute du crayon. Dans ce but, l'invention propose notamment un assemblage combustible tel que défini dans la revendication 1. Dans un tel assemblage, les grilles supérieures assurent un brassage du réfrigérant (eau sous pression) par mélange des filets de réfrigérant plus intense que celui provoqué par les grilles supérieures de l'art antérieur.To reduce this phenomenon of increased corrosion in the upper part of the sheaths, the Applicant has therefore sought to increase the heat exchanges which intervene between each pencil and the pressurized water in the upper part of the pencil. For this purpose, the invention proposes in particular a fuel assembly as defined in claim 1. In such an assembly, the upper grids ensure mixing of the refrigerant (water under pressure) by mixing the coolant streams more intense than that caused by the upper grids of the prior art.

On peut ainsi obtenir :

  • un retard dans l'apparition de la corrosion sur la surface des crayons en partie haute des assemblages et ce, grâce à :
  • un meilleur mélange du réfrigérant en partie haute de l'assemblage, tout en conservant pour ce dernier une perte de charge compatible avec un bon fonctionnement du réacteur.
  • un retard dans la formation de l'oxyde en partie haute des gaines, sans pour autant pénaliser la partie basse de l'assemblage,
We can thus obtain:
  • a delay in the appearance of corrosion on the surface of the rods in the upper part of the assemblies, thanks to:
  • better mixing of the refrigerant in the upper part of the assembly, while retaining a pressure drop for the latter compatible with proper operation of the reactor.
  • a delay in the formation of the oxide in the upper part of the sheaths, without however penalizing the lower part of the assembly,

Dans un mode avantageux de réalisation, les grilles supérieures sont munies d'ailettes et les grilles inférieures en sont dépourvues. En général, la dernière grille située à proximité de l'extrémité supérieure de l'assemblage s'en trouve également démunie.In an advantageous embodiment, the upper grids are provided with fins and the lower grids are devoid of them. In general, the last grid located near the upper end of the assembly is also deprived.

Dans un autre mode avantageux de réalisation, les grilles supérieures sont de type allégé ; elles peuvent être du genre décrit dans le document EP-A-O 239 441. Elles comportent alors une ceinture périphérique et au moins deux séries de plaquettes parallèles, les plaquettes d'une série étant obliques par rapport à celles des autres de façon que les séries délimitent des alvéoles de passage de crayons; les plaquettes parallèles sont réparties en au moins deux lits espacés dans le sens longitudinal de l'assemblage, munies de demi-ailettes présentant des orientations différentes dans les deux lits.In another advantageous embodiment, the upper grids are of the lightened type; they can be of the kind described in document EP-AO 239 441. They then comprise a peripheral belt and at least two series of parallel plates, the plates of a series being oblique with respect to those of the others so that the series delimit passage alveoli from pencils; the parallel plates are distributed in at least two beds spaced in the longitudinal direction of the assembly, provided with half-fins having different orientations in the two beds.

L'invention sera mieux comprise à la lecture de la description qui suit d'un mode particulier de réalisation, donné à titre d'exemple non limitatif. La description se réfère aux dessins qui l'accompagnent, dans lesquels :

  • la figure 1 est une courbe représentant l'oxydation externe de la gaine en zircaloy d'un crayon combustible qui montre l'évolution de l'épaisseur de la couche d'oxyde (zircone) en fonction de la position de la gaine par rapport aux grilles d'un assemblage de type connu.
  • la figure 2 est une vue schématique d'un assemblage combustible de type PWR comportant des grilles espacées selon l'invention.
  • la figure 3 est un schéma en perspective de grilles supérieures allégées comprenant deux lits, montrant une disposition possible des ailettes.
  • la figure 4 est un schéma en perspective montrant une disposition possible des ailettes dans une grille mélangeuse supérieure à deux lits de plaquettes.
  • la figure 5 est une vue en élévation montrant, de façon plus réaliste que les figures 3 et 4, une forme possible des plaquettes constitutives d'une grille supérieure.
  • la figure 6 est une vue de dessus d'un fragment de la figure 5,
  • la figure 7 est une vue très schématique, en perspective et à grande échelle, montrant l'entrecroisement des plaquettes d'une grille à simple lit pour délimiter un alvéole.
  • la figure 8 est un schéma de principe en perspective, où l'échelle n'est pas respectée, montrant les bossages ménagés sur deux des parois d'une grille inférieure de l'assemblage.
  • la figure 9 est une vue en coupe suivant la ligne IX-IX de la figure 8.
The invention will be better understood on reading the following description of a particular embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example. The description refers to the accompanying drawings, in which:
  • FIG. 1 is a curve representing the external oxidation of the zircaloy cladding of a fuel rod which shows the change in the thickness of the oxide (zirconia) layer as a function of the position of the cladding relative to the grids of a known type of assembly.
  • Figure 2 is a schematic view of a PWR type fuel assembly having spaced grids according to the invention.
  • Figure 3 is a perspective diagram of lightened upper grids comprising two beds, showing a possible arrangement of the fins.
  • Figure 4 is a perspective diagram showing a possible arrangement of the fins in a mixing grid above two beds of plates.
  • Figure 5 is an elevational view showing, more realistically than Figures 3 and 4, a possible form of the plates constituting an upper grid.
  • FIG. 6 is a top view of a fragment of FIG. 5,
  • Figure 7 is a very schematic view, in perspective and on a large scale, showing the interlacing of the plates of a single-bed grid to delimit a cell.
  • Figure 8 is a perspective block diagram, where the scale is not respected, showing the bosses formed on two of the walls of a lower grid of the assembly.
  • FIG. 9 is a sectional view along line IX-IX of FIG. 8.

La courbe de la figure 1 montre l'évolution de l'épaisseur de la couche de zircone sur la surface d'un crayon en fonction de la position dans l'assemblage, et ce pour un assemblage de type connu.The curve of Figure 1 shows the evolution of the thickness of the zirconia layer on the surface of a pencil as a function of the position in the assembly, and this for an assembly of known type.

On a porté en abcisse la distance entre l'extrémité de la partie inférieure du crayon et la partie du crayon où s'effectue la mesure, et en ordonnée l'épaisseur de couche d'oxyde mesurée. L'emplacement des grilles réparties axialement le long du crayon est représenté sur la figure 1 par des barres verticales identifiées de A à H, la grille désignée par A étant la grille située la plus près de la pièce d'extrémité inférieure de l'assemblage et donc du bouchon inférieur du crayon examiné.The distance between the end of the lower part of the pencil and the part of the pencil where the measurement is taken is plotted on the abscissa, and the thickness of the oxide layer measured is plotted on the ordinate. The location of the grids distributed axially along the rod is shown in Figure 1 by vertical bars identified from A to H, the grid designated by A being the grid located closest to the lower end piece of the assembly and therefore of the lower cap of the pencil examined.

Cette courbe, issue des mesures effectuées par le demandeur, fait apparaître que :

  • la couche de zircone est nettement plus épaisse entre les grilles E et H qu'entre les grilles situées en partie basse de l'assemblage.
  • l'épaisseur de la couche d'oxyde est moins importante, par rapport à l'amont immédiat des grilles, non seulement à la hauteur même des grilles, mais aussi immédiatement en aval de celles-ci.
  • enfin, et c'est une constatation expérimentale, selon les grilles cet effet est sensible sur environ 10 à 30 cm en aval des grilles, la couche de zircone redevenant ensuite plus épaisse dans l'intervalle intergrilles pour atteindre un pic un peu après le milieu de l'intervalle entre les grilles F et G.
This curve, resulting from the measurements carried out by the applicant, shows that:
  • the zirconia layer is much thicker between the grids E and H than between the grids located in the lower part of the assembly.
  • the thickness of the oxide layer is less important, compared to the immediate upstream of the grids, not only at the same height of the grids, but also immediately downstream thereof.
  • finally, and this is an experimental observation, depending on the grids, this effect is noticeable over approximately 10 to 30 cm downstream of the grids, the zirconia layer then becoming thicker again in the intergrid interval to reach a peak a little after the middle of the interval between grids F and G.

La figure 2 représente schématiquement un assemblage 1, comportant un squelette qui comprend une pièce d'extrémité inférieure 3 et une pièce d'extrémité supérieure 4, reliées par des éléments allongés tels que des tubes guides 5.FIG. 2 schematically represents an assembly 1, comprising a skeleton which comprises a lower end piece 3 and an upper end piece 4, connected by elongated elements such as guide tubes 5.

Il est muni de grilles inférieures 6, 7, 8, 9 et de grilles supérieures 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, l'espacement existant entre les grilles supérieures situées dans la moitié supérieure de l'assemblage 1 étant moindre que l'espacement existant entre les grilles inférieures situées dans la moitié inférieure de l'assemblage 1. Dans le cas particulier représenté, l'assemblage comporte sept grilles supérieures et quatre grilles inférieures, ces nombres n'étant pas limitatifs.It is provided with lower grids 6, 7, 8, 9 and upper grids 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, the spacing existing between the upper grids located in the upper half of assembly 1 being less than the spacing between the lower grids located in the lower half of the assembly 1. In the particular case shown, the assembly comprises seven upper grids and four lower grids, these numbers not being limiting.

L'implantation des sept grilles supérieures permet un meilleur mélange du réfrigérant, à puissance du réacteur et température du réfrigérant égales, en partie haute de l'assemblage ; celle-ci entraîne une température de la gaine plus faible et permet donc de ralentir la croissance de la couche d'oxyde dans cette partie. La formation de la corrosion sur les crayons dans la partie comprise entre les grilles E et H de la figure 1 s'en trouve de ce fait retardée.The installation of the seven upper grids allows better mixing of the refrigerant, at reactor power and equal coolant temperature, in the upper part of the assembly; this results in a lower sheath temperature and therefore makes it possible to slow the growth of the oxide layer in this part. The formation of corrosion on the rods in the part between the grids E and H of Figure 1 is thereby delayed.

Selon une disposition avantageuse de l'invention, le nombre de grilles en partie supérieure est considéré comme doublé, les crayons étant entretoisés par des grilles disposées axialement tous les 25 cm.According to an advantageous arrangement of the invention, the number of grids in the upper part is considered to be doubled, the rods being braced by grids arranged axially every 25 cm.

La figure 3 montre schématiquement une grille 20 pouvant être adoptée comme grille supérieure dans un assemblage selon l'invention. Elle comprend deux lits parallèles 21 et 22 de plaquettes 23 de maintien et d'espacement des crayons. Les plaquettes sont munies d'ailettes de mélange 24, de façon à assurer, en plus de leur fonction de supportage, une fonction de mélange des filets fluides.FIG. 3 schematically shows a grid 20 which can be adopted as an upper grid in an assembly according to the invention. It comprises two parallel beds 21 and 22 of plates 23 for holding and spacing the pencils. The plates are provided with mixing fins 24, so as to ensure, in addition to their support function, a function of mixing the fluid threads.

La figure 4 montre un type de grille mélangeuse à deux lits 21 et 22. Les lits sont reliés par des tiges ou barrettes d'angle 25. Chaque lit comprend des plaquettes 26 montées suivant deux directions différentes. On notera que chaque lit de plaquettes tel qu'apparaissant sur les figures 3 et 4 est incomplet en ce sens qu'un alvéole de réception de crayons 27 n'est complètement délimité que par des plaquettes appartenant aux deux lits.Figure 4 shows a type of mixing grid with two beds 21 and 22. The beds are connected by rods or corner bars 25. Each bed includes plates 26 mounted in two different directions. It will be noted that each bed of plates as appearing in FIGS. 3 and 4 is incomplete in the sense that a pencil receiving cell 27 is only completely delimited by plates belonging to the two beds.

Les grilles supérieures peuvent être du type de celles décrites dans le document EP-A-0 239 441, mais d'autres types de grilles sont également utilisables dans un assemblage suivant l'invention.The upper grids can be of the type described in document EP-A-0 239 441, but other types of grids can also be used in an assembly according to the invention.

Les figures 5 et 6 montrent une réalisation possible des grilles supérieures à un seul lit et font apparaître des languettes de fixation 31 de la grille 30 sur certains des tubes-guide.Figures 5 and 6 show a possible embodiment of the grids above a single bed and show the fixing tabs 31 of the grid 30 on some of the guide tubes.

La grille 30 assure une fonction d'entretoisement des crayons 32, par des bossages 33, 34 placés sur chaque face des plaquettes 35 à deux niveaux. Elle introduit des turbulences dans l'écoulement du fluide de refroidissement traversant de bas en haut l'assemblage par des ailettes 36, par exemple du type décrit dans le document EP-A-0 187 578.The grid 30 provides a spacer function for the rods 32, by bosses 33, 34 placed on each face of the plates 35 at two levels. It introduces turbulence into the flow of the cooling fluid passing from bottom to top of the assembly by fins 36, for example of the type described in document EP-A-0 187 578.

Pour augmenter encore la rigidité de la grille, certaines au moins des plaquettes se prolongent avantageusement par une lèvre 37 présentant un pli longitudinal 38 de raidissement.To further increase the rigidity of the grid, at least some of the plates advantageously extend by a lip 37 having a longitudinal fold 38 of stiffening.

La figure 7 montre l'aspect, en vue de dessus, des grilles inférieures. Ces grilles comportent deux jeux de plaquettes 40 dans lesquelles sont ménagées des fentes 41 d'assemblage à mi-fer (figure 8). Une fois emboitées, les plaquettes sont fixées par soudage en des points 42 par exemple par faisceau d'électrons. Les plaquettes 40 sont embouties de façon à créer des bossages faisant saillie de chaque côté de la plaquette, dans deux alvéoles adjacents, tels que les alvéoles 43 et 44 sur la figure 7. Ces bossages assurent l'entretoisement latéral des crayons de matériau fissile, tels que le crayon 45 sur la figure 7.Figure 7 shows the appearance, in top view, of the lower grids. These grids comprise two sets of plates 40 in which slots 41 of mid-iron assembly are formed (FIG. 8). Once fitted, the plates are fixed by welding at points 42, for example by electron beam. The plates 40 are stamped so as to create bosses projecting from each side of the plate, in two adjacent cells, such as cells 43 and 44 in FIG. 7. These bosses provide the lateral bracing of the crayons of fissile material, such than the pencil 45 in FIG. 7.

Les grilles représentées sur les figures 7, 8 et 9, comportent sur chaque face d'un alvéole, un seul bossage. Les bossages correspondant à l'alvéole 43 sont désignés par la référence 46 sur les figures 8 et 9. Les bossages sur deux faces sont à un niveau différent de celui des bossages portés par les deux faces perpendiculaires. Chaque crayon de matériau fissile 45 est donc entretoisé. latéralement par contact avec quatre bossages. A chaque bossage 46 est associé un bossage 47 orienté en sens opposé, sauf dans le cas des parois qui délimitent un alvéole occupé par un tube guide 48 (figure 7). Les grilles inférieures ne comportent pas d'ailettes. Elles ne participent donc que faiblement au mélange des filets fluides et, en conséquence, n'introduisent qu'une très faible perte de charge.The grids shown in Figures 7, 8 and 9, have on each face of a cell, a single boss. The bosses corresponding to the cell 43 are designated by the reference 46 in Figures 8 and 9. The bosses on two faces are at a different level from that of the bosses carried by the two perpendicular faces. Each pencil of fissile material 45 is therefore braced. laterally by contact with four bosses. Each boss 46 is associated with a boss 47 oriented in the opposite direction, except in the case of the walls which delimit a cell occupied by a guide tube 48 (FIG. 7). The lower grids do not have fins. They therefore participate only slightly in the mixture of fluid threads and, consequently, introduce only a very low pressure drop.

L'invention ne se limite nullement aux modes de réalisation qui ont été décrits. Elle en couvre toutes les variantes dans le cire des revendications et notamment celles où les grilles ont une section polygonale non rectangulaire.The invention is in no way limited to the embodiments which have been described. It covers all variants thereof in the wax of the claims and in particular those where the grids have a non-rectangular polygonal section.

Claims (3)

  1. Fuel assembly for a nuclear reactor for a core cooled by a coolant passing through the core from the bottom upwardly, comprising a bundle of fuel elements provided with a zirconium base alloy sheath, the elements being held in an array having a predetermined pitch by spacer grids distributed along the bundle and traversed by the elements and supported against the latter, wherein the grids consist of:
    - lower grids (6,7,8,9) mutually identical, devoid of coolant mixing fins and distributed at mutually equal intervals along the elements in the lower portion of the assembly, and
    - upper grids (10,11,11,13,14,15,16) which, except the uppermost grid (16), are mutually identical, provided with coolant mixing fins and distributed at intervals which are equal and smaller than that of the lower grids (6,7,8,9), the uppermost grid being devoid of fins.
  2. Fuel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper grids (10,11,12,13,14,15,16) are mutually separated by a distance comprised between 15 and 30 cm.
  3. Fuel assembly according to claim 1, characterized in that the upper grids comprise a peripheral belt and at least two sets of parallel plates (23, 26), the plates of one set being oblique with respect to those of the other sets, whereby the sets define passage cells for the elements, said parallel plates being distributed in at least two beds (21, 22) spaced in the longitudinal direction of the assembly, provided with fins (24) having different orientations in the two beds (21, 22).
EP87401115A 1986-05-20 1987-05-18 Fuel assembly comprising an anti-corrosion spacer grid Expired - Lifetime EP0246962B1 (en)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
FR8607133 1986-05-20
FR8607133A FR2599177B1 (en) 1986-05-20 1986-05-20 FUEL ASSEMBLY WITH ANTI-CORROSION GRIDS

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP0246962A1 EP0246962A1 (en) 1987-11-25
EP0246962B1 true EP0246962B1 (en) 1991-06-19

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EP87401115A Expired - Lifetime EP0246962B1 (en) 1986-05-20 1987-05-18 Fuel assembly comprising an anti-corrosion spacer grid

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US (1) US4804516A (en)
EP (1) EP0246962B1 (en)
JP (1) JP2572231B2 (en)
KR (1) KR950001734B1 (en)
CN (1) CN1011270B (en)
DE (1) DE3770871D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2022391B3 (en)
FR (1) FR2599177B1 (en)
ZA (1) ZA873582B (en)

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FR2665292B1 (en) * 1990-07-24 1992-11-13 Framatome Sa ADDITIONAL GRILLE FOR FUEL ASSEMBLY OF NUCLEAR REACTOR AND ASSEMBLY COMPRISING APPLICATION.
FR2666678B1 (en) * 1990-07-24 1993-07-30 Framatome Sa GRILLE WITH MIXING FINS FOR NUCLEAR FUEL ASSEMBLY.
SE468571B (en) * 1991-06-12 1993-02-08 Asea Atom Ab DISTRIBUTOR FOR CONTAINING BRAINSLET STARS IN A CORE REACTOR'S BRAINSLE PATTERN
DE4308364A1 (en) * 1993-03-16 1994-09-22 Siemens Ag Pressurized water reactor with individually adjusted pressure distribution in the coolant
SE505285C2 (en) * 1993-06-30 1997-07-28 Asea Atom Ab Fuel cartridge for boiler water reactor, including seven spreader
US5488644A (en) 1994-07-13 1996-01-30 General Electric Company Spring assemblies for adjoining nuclear fuel rod containing ferrules and a spacer formed of the spring assemblies and ferrules
US5519747A (en) 1994-10-04 1996-05-21 General Electric Company Apparatus and methods for fabricating spacers for a nuclear fuel rod bundle
US5546437A (en) 1995-01-11 1996-08-13 General Electric Company Spacer for nuclear fuel rods
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GB9707690D0 (en) * 1997-04-16 1997-06-04 British Nuclear Fuels Plc Improvements in or relating to fuel assemblies
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US7085340B2 (en) * 2003-09-05 2006-08-01 Westinghouse Electric Co, Llc Nuclear reactor fuel assemblies
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US20070206717A1 (en) * 2006-03-02 2007-09-06 Westinghouse Electric Company Llc Multiple and variably-spaced intermediate flow mixing vane grids for fuel assembly
UA104989C2 (en) * 2006-09-06 2014-04-10 Холтек Інтернешнл, Інк. Canister apparatus and basket for transporting, storing and/or supporting spent nuclear fuel
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JP2572231B2 (en) 1997-01-16
ZA873582B (en) 1989-01-25
DE3770871D1 (en) 1991-07-25
KR950001734B1 (en) 1995-02-28
FR2599177B1 (en) 1991-10-18
US4804516A (en) 1989-02-14
JPS6333696A (en) 1988-02-13
KR870011624A (en) 1987-12-24
FR2599177A1 (en) 1987-11-27
CN87104308A (en) 1988-02-24
CN1011270B (en) 1991-01-16
EP0246962A1 (en) 1987-11-25
ES2022391B3 (en) 1991-12-01

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